Dhaka don’t want to squander a chance

Comilla look to keep winning momentum

Sports Reporter

Dhaka Dynamites skipper Shakib Al Hasan (R) discusses with team head coach Khaled Mahmud Sujon during a practice session yesterday at the National Cricket Academy ground ahead of the first Qualifier against Comilla Victorians today. BCB PHOTO

While they are one shot away to their consecutive second BPL final, Dhaka Dynamites made it clear that they will turn up in the first Qualifier game against Comilla Victorians as underdog. The ‘underdog’ statement is revealed by none other than Dhaka’s successful coach Khaled Mahmud Sujon and he had some logic behind it. Firstly, Dhaka lost both of the match against Comilla in the group phase—by four wickets and 12 runs. Both of the matches were low-scoring affair and Comilla’s bowling strength trumped Dhaka’s batting might.
Dhaka’s batting strength is evidenced in the fact that they are the only team to score 200 plus runs thrice in the tournament, two of those came in Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, which has recently been criticised for not offering ideal T20 pitch. However somehow Dhaka’s batting line up couldn’t live up to the expectation against Comilla Victorians, leaving Mahmud make cautious stance ahead of the crucial game.And secondly, Comilla remains the most consistent team in the group phase, losing just three games in 12 matches, finishing with 18 points. Dhaka ended the group phase with 15 points and came up as second only to edge Khulna Titans by better run rate.

It’s not that a defeat would leave them out from the tournament but no team is to squander the chance to confirming a berth in the final in the first chance.

“Firstly we’ll come up in tomorrow’s match as an underdog because Comilla won both of the matches against us. We weren’t as consistent as we expected. In this venue, we made 200 plus total but at the same time, in some matches, we made less than 150 runs. So there is problem in consistency,” said Mahmud.

“What is most important is to pick the momentum in right time. We couldn’t do that. But we need to ensure that we gain the momentum from the beginning when we’ll take on Comilla tomorrow.”

While the Mirpur’s wicket has been blamed for not offering ideal T20 pitch, Khaled Mahmud didn’t see any demon in the wicket.

“I can’t control the wicket matter. As far as I am concerned the curator is giving his best. Again if you watch our last game—we didn’t have good start but Shakib batted so well that we got considerable amount of runs. So I can’t blame wicket here.”

Mahmud however expected his top order to bring up their A plus game in today’s match, saying their task would be easier if the top order play to their potential.

“We have some good players in top order like Evin Lewis, Sunil Narine. Shakib has been leading from the front. If they could play to their potential, it will be easier for us.”

Comilla rested some of the key players in their last match but their coach Salahuddin said they have no intention to loss the momentum.

“We rested some players, considering the workload but it’s not that we didn’t want to win the game. We wanted to win because we need to keep up the momentum. And that’s what we did. We need to carry the momentum,” he said.

So according to Salahuddin, even losing the Qualifier game against Dhaka Dynamites would distract them from their concentration.

“We are not thinking that we still would have the chance in case of losing the game. What we want is to carry the momentum. That is important.”

Dhaka dont want to squander a chance

Comilla look to keep winning momentum

Sports Reporter

While they are one shot away to their consecutive second BPL final, Dhaka Dynamites made it clear that they will turn up in the first Qualifier game against Comilla Victorians as underdog. The underdog statement is revealed by none other than Dhakas successful coach Khaled Mahmud Sujon and he had some logic behind it. Firstly, Dhaka lost both of the match against Comilla in the group phaseby four wickets and 12 runs. Both of the matches were low-scoring affair and Comillas bowling strength trumped Dhakas batting might.
Dhakas batting strength is evidenced in the fact that they are the only team to score 200 plus runs thrice in the tournament, two of those came in Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, which has recently been criticised for not offering ideal T20 pitch. However somehow Dhakas batting line up couldnt live up to the expectation against Comilla Victorians, leaving Mahmud make cautious stance ahead of the crucial game.And secondly, Comilla remains the most consistent team in the group phase, losing just three games in 12 matches, finishing with 18 points. Dhaka ended the group phase with 15 points and came up as second only to edge Khulna Titans by better run rate.
Its not that a defeat would leave them out from the tournament but no team is to squander the chance to confirming a berth in the final in the first chance.
Firstly well come up in tomorrows match as an underdog because Comilla won both of the matches against us. We werent as consistent as we expected. In this venue, we made 200 plus total but at the same time, in some matches, we made less than 150 runs. So there is problem in consistency, said Mahmud.
What is most important is to pick the momentum in right time. We couldnt do that. But we need to ensure that we gain the momentum from the beginning when well take on Comilla tomorrow.
While the Mirpurs wicket has been blamed for not offering ideal T20 pitch, Khaled Mahmud didnt see any demon in the wicket.
I cant control the wicket matter. As far as I am concerned the curator is giving his best. Again if you watch our last gamewe didnt have good start but Shakib batted so well that we got considerable amount of runs. So I cant blame wicket here.
Mahmud however expected his top order to bring up their A plus game in todays match, saying their task would be easier if the top order play to their potential.
We have some good players in top order like Evin Lewis, Sunil Narine. Shakib has been leading from the front. If they could play to their potential, it will be easier for us.
Comilla rested some of the key players in their last match but their coach Salahuddin said they have no intention to loss the momentum.
We rested some players, considering the workload but its not that we didnt want to win the game. We wanted to win because we need to keep up the momentum. And thats what we did. We need to carry the momentum, he said.
So according to Salahuddin, even losing the Qualifier game against Dhaka Dynamites would distract them from their concentration.
We are not thinking that we still would have the chance in case of losing the game. What we want is to carry the momentum. That is important.

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